85 Dutch Embqffy to China. 



unknown in that country. The horfe, the moft beautiful 

 end ufeful animal in Europe, is defpifed there. Buffaloes, 

 mules, and dromedaries, are the animals principally employed 

 for tranfportation. 



In no country does agriculture flourifh fo much as in China. 

 This art is there beheld with almoft religious veneration. 

 On this fubject there are treatifes, brought to perfection by 

 application and the experience of feveral ages : thefe treatifes, 

 fuited to the foil of each canton, are depofited in the hands 

 of the mandarin who acts as firft magiftrate ; and he takes 

 care that the neighbouring farmers mall be made acquainted 

 with, and turn to advantage, the lcffons which thefe treatifes 

 contain. 



Citizen van Braam fpeaks of the monuments which he 

 frequently met with on his route, and which he characterifes. 

 under the name of triumphal arches, and octagonal or hexa- 

 gonal towers confifting of feven or eight ftories. He does 

 not explain the ufe of thefe towers, which appear to be in 

 China what obelitks were among the Egyptians. 



With regard to the triumphal arches, Citizen van Braam 

 fays that they are monuments erected to the memory of 

 warriors who rendered fervices to their country, and fome- 

 times to private citizens who fignalifed themfelves by their 

 virtues. Some have been erected alfo to young women and 

 wives : to the former on account of their chaflity, and to the 

 latter on account of their fidelity. 



If perpetual virginity could be made to accord with nature, 

 it would be no great merit in China to devote one's felf to. 

 it ; for the manner in which women are there treated, is not 

 much calculated to awaken in young perfons of that fex a 

 defire of being chafte. Parents carry on a kind of traffic 

 with their children. Thofe who are faid to be of good birth 

 give them in exchange for a large dowry, which they put 

 into their own pockets : others fell them like merchandife, 

 without caring what becomes of them. The wives of the 

 -rich live in perpetual confinement] thofe of the fecond 



order 



